One of these old wooden bridges got moved to a new home to save it from vandals. Another one you can still drive your car right through.
I love that a bridge can have that much backstory.
There were once 19 covered bridges in this one Iowa county. Only six survive today.
The oldest dates to 1870, and the longest stretches 110 feet over a river.
Then Hollywood showed up. A famous movie put a couple of these bridges on the big screen, and fans still come looking for them.
I get it. Old timber, quiet rivers, and country roads make a pretty great backdrop.
So I mapped out the six that made it. Each one has its own quirk, its own builder, and its own reason to pull over.
Grab your camera and maybe a full tank of gas. These back roads reward a slow drive.
1. Historic Cedar Covered Bridge
Want to roll your car across history? Here’s the only covered bridge in Madison County where you can still do exactly that.
Harvey P. Jones first built this bridge back in 1883.
Today it sits in a scenic park setting just outside Winterset, Iowa. That makes it an easy first stop on your bridge tour.
Signs near the bridge share its story, so you don’t need a history degree to enjoy it. Read them before you drive through.
The trip across will feel a lot cooler once you know what you’re rolling over.
Families love this spot for photos, and it’s easy to see why. The bridge is well kept and looks great from just about any angle.
Bring the kids, line everyone up, and snap away.
Timing matters here if you want a quieter visit. Saturday afternoons tend to be the busiest time.
The bridge area is open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM, which gives you plenty of choices.
Address: 1874 Nature Ct, Winterset, IA 50273
2. Historic Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge
Few bridges come with a hedge maze next door. This one does, plus a storybook walk and wood sculptures to explore.
Eli Cox built the Cutler-Donahoe in 1870. It stretches 79 feet and uses a timber town lattice truss design.
That makes it the second oldest of the six bridges still standing in Madison County.
You won’t drive across this one. A paved walking path is the only way to reach it.
Honestly, that’s part of the charm, since you get a nice little stroll through a city park.
The park gives you reasons to stick around longer. You’ll find picnic shelters, water, bocce ball, and camping spots.
There’s even an old castle-like tower nearby that kids will want to check out.
Pack a lunch and turn this stop into a mini outing. The park opens at 6 AM and closes at 10:30 PM daily.
Early birds and late strollers both get their chance here.
Address: 300 S 9th St, Winterset, IA 50273
3. Historic Hogback Covered Bridge
Spring might be the secret weapon of the Hogback Covered Bridge. Flowering trees and birdsong turn this quiet spot into a pretty romantic scene.
Harvey P. Jones and George K.
Foster built it in 1884. The bridge spans 98 feet over the North River.
It has stayed well preserved since those late 1800s days.
Look past the bridge and you’ll spot a field with pretty flowers behind it. Bring your camera and take your time.
The setting feels calm and peaceful compared to busier tourist stops.
Here’s a fun touch you might not expect. A notebook waits at the bridge so you can write about your visit.
You can also sign a dream book and leave a little piece of yourself behind.
So what will you write? A sweet note, a silly joke, or your favorite part of the drive?
Either way, you’ll join a long line of travelers who stopped to admire this Iowa treasure.
Address: 1879 Hogback Bridge Rd, Winterset, IA 50273
4. Historic Holliwell Covered Bridge
Movie buffs, this one’s for you. The Holliwell Covered Bridge showed up in the film The Bridges of Madison County.
Fame aside, it holds another title too. It’s the longest of the six covered bridges still standing in the county.
That length makes for some seriously great wide-angle photos.
Benton Jones and George K. Foster built it in 1879 and 1880.
They used a timber town lattice truss design to cross the Middle River. Those crisscrossing boards inside are worth a close look.
Fun fact: George K. Foster also helped build the Hogback bridge a few years later.
If you visit both, you can compare their work. It’s like a little history scavenger hunt.
The bridge is part of the Bridges of Madison County tour, so it fits nicely into a full day of exploring. Take a moment to stand inside and soak up the old timbers.
You’re standing where movie magic happened.
Address: 123 Holliwell Bridge Rd, Winterset, IA 50273
5. Historic Imes Covered Bridge
Talk about a rescue story. Vandalism once threatened this bridge, so it got moved to a safer home and saved.
It now carries the name of the family who stepped in to help. The bridge sits in Covered Bridge Park in St Charles.
That puts it a little outside Winterset, but the detour is easy.
J.P. Clark, a carpenter, built it in 1870 to cross the Middle River.
It measures 110 feet long. The design is a town lattice truss, like several of its Madison County cousins.
Out of an original 19 covered bridges in the county, it’s one of the few that survived. That alone makes it worth a stop.
You’re looking at a true survivor.
Planning matters a bit here. Hours run 9 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday, and noon to 3 PM on Sunday.
There’s a free parking lot, but no restroom, so plan your pit stops ahead.
Address: Covered Bridge Park, 500 E Main St, St Charles, IA 50240
6. Historic Roseman Covered Bridge
Save the farthest one for last. The Roseman sits as the most remote of Madison County’s six surviving covered bridges.
That distance pays off. Fewer crowds make it out here, so you can enjoy the view in peace.
The bridge spans high above the Middle River in a graceful sweep.
Hollywood loved this spot too. The Roseman was the actual bridge used in the movie The Bridges of Madison County.
If you’ve seen the film, you’ll probably recognize it right away.
History fans get a treat here as well. It was the next to last of the six to be built.
Seeing it feels like peeking at a bridge from more than a hundred years ago.
Don’t skip the gift shop and visitor center. You can sample local jelly and mustard while you browse.
The site is open 24 hours, and there’s a free lot, but no restroom. Saturday afternoon is the busiest time in this corner of Iowa.
Address: 2451 Elderberry Ave, Winterset, IA 50273
